STAF Medical Financial Assistance

STAF offers up to $ 50 in financial assistance, available to clients of veterinarians who participate in our low-cost spay/neuter program. The veterinarians notify us of clients who need this assistance. Our participating veterinarians are located in Gloucester and Camden Counties in NJ. They include

If you are not in our area and do not use one of these doctors, you might be able to find financial assistance from these sources:

Medical Financial Assistance for Animals in Need

American Animal Hospital Association
http://www.aahanet.org/
The purpose of the American Animal Hospital Association* is to . . .
meet the public’s needs as they relate to the delivery of small animal
veterinary medicine.
American Animal Hospital Association
[www.aahahelpingpets.org], (866) 4HELPETS
“The heartbreak happens all too often? A pet owner is unable to afford treatment and their sick or injured companion animal pays the price. If the owner is elderly, disabled or on a fixed income, the cost of care may be too much of a stretch for their pocketbook. Perhaps they have been victimized by crime, property loss or a job layoff and are experiencing a temporary financial hardship? Making it too difficult to afford pet care. And some animals, brought to clinics by Good Samaritans, don’t have anowner to pay for treatment. Whatever the situation, the fact remains thesame: When sick or injured animals are unable to receive veterinary care, they suffer. Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship.”

Angels 4 Animals
www.Angels4Animals.org
Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pet and pet owners in need.
(916) 941-9119
“Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner
Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian
angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. At Angels4Animals we believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need.”

Brown Dog Foundation
http://www.browndogfoundation.org/
We are committed to helping families avoid unnecessary euthanasia
of their family pets because of a temporary financial setback.

Care Credit
www.carecredit.com
(800) 859-9975
A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care.
“Care Credit, the leader in patient/client financing, has helped
more than 3 million patients/clients get the treatment or procedures
they needed and wanted. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget.”

Cats in Crisis
http://www.catsincrisis.org/
Cats in Crisis Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated
to helping individuals and humane organizations care for cats with
chronic or emergency medical conditions through financial and
fundraising assistance.

Feline Outreach
http://www.felineoutreach.org/
Feline Outreach is a charitable organization formed to promote
the routine and medical care of companion animals, particularly cats.
Among other goals, the organization maye enable shelters and the
public to adopt, keep, and/or care for companion animals, particularly
those with special needs – this support may be financial, educational,
or in other forms.

Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP)
http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/
[www.fveap.org], Fax: (888) 301-4264
“The NEED & The HELP: Seniors, People with disabilities, People who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten – any of these folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved
companion.” The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program
is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.

Ginger’s Legacy
http://www.gingerslegacy.com/
We will prevent the financial burden of life-saving medical care from
prematurely ending a beloved pet’s life by helping responsible pet
owners meet the cost of unanticipated crucial pet treatments.

Help-A-Pet
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html
(630) 986-9504
“Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and
the working poor. For lonely seniors, physically/mentally
challenged individuals and children of working parents, pets
represent much more than a diversion.”

IMOM
http://www.imom.org
Fax: (630) 214-8952
“Mission Statement: Helping people help pets. To better the lives
of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated
to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply
because their caretaker is financially challenged.”
(Note: IMOM has a special fund for diabetic cats)

The Magic Bullet Fund
http://www.themagicbulletfund.org/
Those of us who are able to provide treatment for our pups with
cancer are very fortunate. Those who cannot must receive assistance.

Pets Are Loving Support
http://www.sonic.net/~pals/
Pets Are Loving Support is a non-profit agency organized to improve
the quality of life of people with AIDS by preserving and promoting
the human/animal bond through the care and maintenance of their
animal companions.

Pets are Wonderful Support
www.pawssf.org/
Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) is a volunteer-based organization that provides for the comprehensive needs of companion animals for low-income persons with HIV/AIDS and other disabling illnesses.

The Pet Fund
http://thepetfund.com/
[thepetfund.com], (916) 443-6007
“The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit association that
provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who
need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer
needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or
emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make
the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical
needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is
to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal
medical care need never be made on the basis of cost.”

The PetWork
http://www.petwork.com/petworkblog/?cat=26
A Network of pet resources and information, updated daily.

Shakespeare Animal Fund
http://www.shakespeareanimalfund.org/
The Shakespeare Animal Fund is committed to financially assisting
low-income elderly, low-income disabled and other low-income pet
owners with the emergency care of their pets.
(775) 342-7040
“Anyone can apply for funds, but SAF offers assistance primarily to
those on fixed incomes or with annual incomes below $35,000.
Exceptions are made depending on circumstances. It is always a
one-time grant”

United Animal Nations
http://www.uan.org/
United Animal Nations (UAN) is North America’s leading provider
of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services and a
key advocate for the critical needs of animals. UAN assists animals
by helping to prevent, mitigate and resolve crises.
(916) 429-2457
“The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued
animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require
specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to
serve Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or
injured animals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior
citizens and low-income families pay for immediate emergency
veterinary care.”

BREED-SPECIFIC
If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the national club for
that breed. In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial
assistance fund. Here are a few websites for groups that provide
financial assistance for specific breeds:

Labmed
http://www.labmed.org/
LABMED is an Internet-based non-profit organization created to
distribute financial aid to injured or ill rescues around the country,
giving them a second chance at adoption and love from a permanent
family.

Feline Diabetes
http://www.felinediabetes.com/vetbills.htm
If you need help to manage your cat with diabetes, you may be
eligible for financial aid.

Pet Diabetes Support Group
www.petdiabetes.net
for diabetic pets only

The Senior Dogs Project
http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/needhomes.other.resources.html
Looking out for older dogs.

Listing of other organizations that may not be listed here: [www.fveap.org]

REGION SPECIFIC:

Connecticut Humane Society
www.cthumane.org
The Connecticut Humane Society’s Fox Memorial Clinic is a full
service veterinary practice, which provides veterinary care for
animals whose owners are in financial need.

New York Save
NY S.A.V.E, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to the aid
and assistance of low-income pet owners residing in one of the
five boroughs ofNew York City, whose pet is in need of emergency
veterinary care
http://nysave.org

PAWS
http://www.pawssf.org
PAWS provides comprehensive pet-related services to support
persons in San Francisco who are maintaining the guardianship
and the love of companion animals assisting low-income San
Francisco residents living with AIDS or disabling HIV, and people
with other disabling illnesses.

OUTSIDE THE USA:

In Canada: The Farley Foundation. The Farley Foundation is a
charitable organization, founded in 2001, that subsidizes
non-elective medical care for pets of seniors receiving the
Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and persons with
disabilities receiving the Ontario Disability Support Payment
(ODSP). Farley funding is both applied for, and disbursed
through eligible veterinary practices across Ontario.
http://www.fborfw.com/features/ffoundation

UK Assistance with Veterinary Bills
http://www.petloversonline.co.uk/financial.htm
Most of us can cope with the financial commitment involved in the
day to day care of our pets. However, how many of us come out in
a cold sweat when our pet is ill or injured and we know we have to
take it to the vet? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to
afford it but, some of us who love our animals dearly cannot.
Unfortunately we do not have a PDSA or a RSPCA Centre within
our area, but there are a few charities who may be able to help.

Here are a few links that list organizations by state and Canada:
http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=163#Organizations_By_State_and_Canada
http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/needhomes.other.resources.html

And, here’s a great article by the HSUS:
http://tinyurl.com/6c7dh

What You Can Do If You Are Having Trouble Affording Veterinary Care

Many pet owners, at one point or another, are faced with unexpected
veterinary bills. Veterinary medicine has progressed so far that now
pet owners have new, and often expensive, options for the care of
their ailing pets. Although the cost of veterinary care is actually
very reasonable in comparison with the much higher cost of human
health care, an unexpected medical emergency can present a major
financial dilemma for an unprepared pet owner.

The Humane Society of the United States recommends that, in
addition to preparing for routine pet-care costs, you regularly set
aside savings to cover for unexpected veterinary bills. Create a
special “pet savings account” and contribute money to it on a regular basis.

Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment
plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly
payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of
veterinary care up front.

Contact your local shelter. Some shelters operate or know of local
subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. You
can find the name and number of your local shelter in the Yellow
Pages of your phone book under “animal shelter,” “animal control,”
or “humane society,” or by calling Information. You can also go to
www.Pets911.com and enter your zip code to find a list of animal
shelters, animal control agencies, and other animal care organizations
in your community.

If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the National Club for
that breed. In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial
assistance fund.

Ask your veterinarian to submit an assistance request to the
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) “Helping Pets Fund.”
In order to qualify, your animal hospital must be AAHA accredited. To
learn more about the program visit the AAHA web site. To find a
AAHA accredited hospital in your area, search online at www.Pets911.com.

Use your credit card. Ask for a higher credit limit or a cash advance.

Contact the regional office of The HSUS that covers your state. Our
regional office staff is often familiar with organizations and personnel
within their territory and may be able to direct you to programs in your area.

Please remember that, depending on the severity of your pet’s illness
or injury, you may still lose your pet even after great expense. Discuss the prognosis and treatment options thoroughly with your veterinarian, including whether surgery or treatment would just cause your animal discomfort without preserving a life of good quality.

Also remember that a little preventive care can go a long way. Having
your pet spayed or neutered, keeping her shots up to date, and
keeping your pet safely confined can prevent serious and costly
health problems. If you have trouble affording the cost to spay or
neuter your pet, contact your local animal shelter. They may operate a clinic or know of a local clinic that offers subsidized services.

Unfortunately, due to our limited resources as a nonprofit animal
protection organization, The HSUS does not provide direct financial
assistance to pet owners for veterinary or any other expenses. If you
know of any veterinary assistance services, funds, or low-cost
veterinary clinics, please let us know by calling 202-452-1100